Mark of Honor
By Classic Snarry

Chapter 3:

Despite Harry's experience with the Ministry, his undercover experience was limited. He found himself hovering near Snape, who was seemingly becoming his security blanket. When Severus broke off from the group to mingle, Harry casually lagged behind him. He didn't want to appear as if he were stalking the man, but he also had no idea to interact with Death Eaters without strings of hexes and curses. History showed he couldn't even manage to hold a conversation with Snape, whom he knew was on his side.

He began by studying the faces around him, trying to match names where he could and eavesdropping on random conversations. It seemed no one was privy to what Lucius was planning. What he overheard was far from useful. Harry quickly likened the event to a class reunion: a gathering of people who had a piece of history in common, but hardly anyone even remembered other people's names, so the silence was filled with small talk. Somehow of all the ways he imagined a Death Eater meeting, boring was never one of the adjectives he would have used. Snape similarly exchanged mundane pleasantries, but unlike those he conversed with, he seemed to know the name of every person he met.

Snape stopped suddenly, and Harry crashed into his back.

"Following a bit too closely, Edmund?" Snape asked with a sardonic lift of one eyebrow.

Harry had been caught trailing a Death Eater he'd theoretically just met. He racked his mind for a plausible excuse. "Maybe. Do you mind me being close, Severus?" Harry groaned internally, of all the plausible excuses, his brain has supplied him with the flirting defense. Snape would never be stupid enough to fall for this.

"Not particularly, so long as I know your intent," Snape replied.

"You seem to know everyone here. I hardly know anyone. I was marked shortly before Voldemort's death." Amazingly one of the first lines he'd given all night that wasn't a lie.

Snape inclined his head thoughtfully before replying. "Yes, I didn't recall having met you previously," Snape began, "And if we had met I'm certain I would remember."

Harry let his mouth gape slightly, before flashing a nervous smile.

"You have such a pretty blush, Edmund. Forgive me for being so forward, but would you care to have dinner with me?" Snape asked with a hesitant smile.

Harry stammered, completely thrown off. His security blanket suddenly didn't seem so familiar or secure.

"Tomorrow, eight-o'clock? I'll meet you outside the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley."

"Sounds great," Harry found himself replying.

"Alas, I'm well and truly late for a prior engagement. If you would excuse me?"

Harry nodded and Snape apparated out. Harry slowly made another turn around the room, alone this time, but found himself too distracted by what had just happened to be of any use. He stayed a few more moments, simply to ensure he didn't run into Severus at the apparation point outside of Hogwarts, before he also popped out of the ballroom. Arriving outside of the gates of the castle, he hustled inside, it wouldn't do for Snape to find him missing, despite the fact that he too had missed their meeting.

Knowing Snape's habits, he proceeded directly to the Headmaster's office. Providing the gargoyle the password he climbed the stairs only to pause as he heard Snape's voice drifting towards him.

"We were right, Albus. The Dark Lord had marked someone just prior to his death."

"You've met him?"

"Yes, his name is Edmund Fitzgerald, and we can only assume that as Voldemort marked him without telling anyone else that he had something particular in store for him. I doubt even Malfoy knows of his intentions."

"He could be more dangerous than anyone we have encountered before, my boy. You must be careful in your pursuit of him."

"It's a bit too late for that, Albus."

"Oh?"

"I've bloody well asked him to dinner, haven't I?"

"Well, that seems like an unusual approach for you."

"I don't very often meet random Death Eaters I think will accept even if I were to ask them. He openly flirted with me, not to mention the fact that he followed me about like a wounded puppy."

"He must have some ulterior motive."

"As much as I appreciate your faith in my ability to attract a partner, I would have to agree with you. He is powerful and seemingly equally matched Occlumens to myself..."

Harry began to retreat down the stairs once more, and absentmindedly made his way to Snape's office to wait for his return. Snape's apparent interest in him now made more sense. Harry realized that his undercover foray was having the opposite effect as he had hoped. Not only was he not gaining any useful information, but by distracting Snape with a non-existant threat he was inhibiting the Potion Master's ability to gather useful information. He debated not showing up to the Leaky Cauldron, but realized that would probably make the professor more suspicious. No, he'd simply need to go and try to convince Snape that he wasn't a threat after all. Without revealing his true identity of course.

Ensconcing himself in the chair opposite Snape's desk, he attempted to look casual as he heard Snape's footsteps approach. Realizing he had no idea what to say, and probably no hope of looking casual, he instead feigned sleep, a skill he had perfected pretending to ignore when Hermione would crawl in to Ron's bed in their dormitory.

He heard the footsteps enter the office and approach the desk before they halted abruptly, likely Snape noticing just who was in his office.

"Potter!" Snape bellowed.

"Five more minutes, Hermione..." Harry murmured with hidden mirth.

"Mr. Potter!" Snape repeated, even more forcefully.

Harry "woke up," blinking blearily at his former professor.

"Professor Snape?" he asked innocently.

"What in the devil are you doing in my office."

"I was waiting for you for our appointment, I must have fallen asleep. Where were you, sir?"

"That is none of your concern," Snape snapped.

"Well I'm bushed, how about we reschedule. Tomorrow night? Same time?"

"Mr. Potter, it may come as a surprise to you, but I do have obligations outside of suiting your every whim. As it so happens I am previously engaged tomorrow evening. We will set a date to reschedule at a later time."

"Understood, sir," Harry replied, slowly rising from the chair. "Goodnight, Severus."

Harry could feel Snape glare at his back as he exited the office.